Earning one of the highest-paying IT certifications in the United States can be a career game-changer for an IT pro. Not only can it help establish you as an expert in a tech specialty area, such as cloud architecture, incident management, cloud infrastructure, IT security, or auditing, but it can also significantly increase your salary.
IT professionals are known for earning a good income, even during challenging economic times. Skillsoft's 2023–2024 IT Skills & Salary Report indicated that the salaries of IT professionals in the United States grew an average of $20,000 between 2022 and 2023. And, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that the median annual salary for an Information Security Analyst was $120,360 during 2023 as well. Many high-demand IT pros proved they had the skills needed to make themselves indispensable during times of economic uncertainty, largely due to the best-paying IT certifications available.
It makes sense that a combination of skills, certifications, and experience can help IT pros land lucrative positions. But which best IT certifications are so in demand that some employers will pay top dollar for the candidates who hold them?
Indeed showcases the top-paying IT certified jobs in the United States.
Top-paying IT certifications in the United States
- Google Professional Cloud Architect
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified ScrumMaster
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- CompTIA A+, CompTIA Cloud+, and CompTIA Security+
- ITIL 4 Foundation Level Certification
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
There are other valuable, lucrative AWS certifications that IT professionals can pursue, as outlined by the Salary Survey 75 in 2023. The following best CompTIA certifications are ranked in order as the year’s top-earning certifications:
- CompTIA SecurityX
- CompTIA Cloud+
- CompTIA Linux+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Server+
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA CySA+
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Project+
CompTIA certifications lead to lucrative jobs
The certifications listed above are among the best-paying IT certifications because they help IT pros gain the skills needed to land top-dollar tech roles. The best CompTIA certifications that made Certification Magazine's list help you secure in-demand IT jobs related to tech support, networking, and cybersecurity that lead to a lucrative tech career.
Because CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+ are the best IT certifications, IT pros who earn them gain the skills they need now and to succeed throughout their IT career.
CompTIA A+
CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for launching IT careers. This IT certification helps you:
- Troubleshoot and problem-solve core IT service and support challenges
- Configure and support a wide range of devices and operating systems
- Support basic IT infrastructure and networking
- Demonstrate baseline security skills for IT support professionals
- Administer client-based as well as cloud-based (SaaS) software
- Implement basic data backup and recovery methods
CompTIA A+ proves you have the skills needed to get into IT and gives you the building blocks to prepare you for more advanced IT jobs. With this CompTIA certification alone, you could become a help desk technician, which is a jumping-off point for many specialized IT positions.
IT support specialists solve technical issues and work with people. They often provide remote technical support over the phone, backup and restore data files, and more.
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Network+ helps you develop a solid foundation of computer networking and IT infrastructure skills. It covers the following tasks related to jobs like systems administrator.
This IT certification helps you:
- Design, implement, and troubleshoot functional networks
- Configure, manage and maintain essential network devices
- Use devices such as switches and routers to segment network traffic and create resilient networks
- Identify the benefits and drawbacks of existing network configurations
- Implement network security standards and protocols
- Support the creation of virtualized networks
Systems administrators evaluate different problems in computer systems and implement and improve systems when needed. According to CompTIA's IT Salary Calculator, the median salary for those starting as a systems administrator is $90,520.
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Security+ covers baseline cybersecurity skills and prepares you for a cybersecurity career in roles such as cybersecurity specialist. This IT certification helps you:
- Assess the security posture of wired and wireless networks to recommend and implement appropriate security solutions
- Monitor and secure hybrid environments, including cloud, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), and operational technology
- Operate with an awareness of applicable regulations and policies, including principles of governance, risk, and compliance
- Understand common vulnerabilities and attack vector exploits
- Operate with an awareness of applicable laws and policies, including principles of governance, risk, and compliance
IT pros who have CompTIA Security+ can fill any number of top-paying IT cybersecurity jobs, including the role of a cybersecurity specialist. These IT pros are vital to an organization, as they ensure networks remain secure and protected against ever-evolving cyber threats through threat mitigation, incident response, and detailed reporting. A cybersecurity specialist starting their career could earn a median annual salary of $112,000, as indicated by CompTIA's IT Salary Calculator.
Build critical vendor-neutral skills with CompTIA certifications
CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, and CompTIA Security+ are perfect for building and implementing vendor-neutral skills that can be applied to any platform or equipment. While these best CompTIA certifications aren’t formal prerequisites for vendor-specific certifications, such as AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), they provide the foundational IT skills that can be applied to them.